Experiences of impact assessment in development aid in Latin America

Abstract

This article aims at shedding light on the specific mechanisms of impact assessment applied in the context of development aid experiences in which Latin American countries have had a leading role (as recipients or donors of such aid). Firstly, recent socioeconomic trends in the region are listed. This first section provides information on the sociological setting where the development aid programs to be analyzed have been built. Secondly, available mechanisms of impact assessment are reviewed in order to place the different Latin American experiences, addressed in the appropriate categories. Thirdly, Latin American experiences of development aid meeting the double condition of, on the one hand, having been referred to as «good practice» by international organizations, and, on the other, having applied strict processes of impact assessment, are presented in a systematized and integral manner. Fourthly, this chapter ends with conclusions synthesizing the main trends found in the analyzed projects.

Keywords

• Latin America, impact assessment, development aid, good practice